Jordan Schroeder needs a new number

Jordan Schroeder needs a new number

Let me start off by saying I know in the grand scheme of things this doesn’t really matter, but it’s something that I believe in and if one Jordan isn’t going to speak up about it, another Jordan will have to.

Before you start in with your “who cares what number he wears?” and “you’re actually kinda handsome” responses, the evidence is clear that hockey players deem certain numbers to be “real” and others to be junk.

Consider if you will one Mr. Ryan Kesler. When he joined the Canucks he wore No. 20. As soon as Jason King left the organization Kesler switched to No. 17 and hasn’t looked back since. Obviously, it meant something to him, and his career has skyrocketed.

How about ex Captain Markus Naslund? First joined the Canucks as No. 22, but as soon as he could he made the switch to No. 19 and that jersey currently hangs in the rafters above Rogers Arena now and forever. Obviously, it meant something to him.

Heck, even younger guys like Cody Hodgson (*sniff*) and Aaron Volpatti switched as soon as they had established themselves on the team. I’m a little sour about that in Volpatti’s case, as I had just trademarked “Studio 54” as a nickname for him and I was going to drive that sucker into the ground.

(Shown here taking it outside)

I’ve been a big “Jordan Schroeder guy” since he was drafted (for obvious, Jordan support related reasons) and I was pretty bummed when he was the last cut the Canucks made before the season started. Having watched him on the Wolves, he brings a special something to the Canucks that they haven’t seen since… dare I say, Cliff Ronning?

(obligatory 94 Canucks reference)

That decision lasted longer than Jason King’s entire career in Vancouver, as Schroeder was called up to the show a few games later and has made a significant impact ever since. All while wearing a placeholder jersey number that you normally don’t see outside of the preseason squad. Case in point, poor Kevin Connauton has been stuck wearing No. (pound sign ampersand) for a while now.

(Make the team first, then you get a real number)

It has never been more apparent that something needs to change than when Schroeder played his first NHL game in his hometown (Minny) recently and his parents were there to cheer him on. There sat his dad, so proud of his boy and wearing… a No. 40 Maxim Lapierre jersey? What the H?

(Who wouldn’t wear a Lapierre jersey? Guy is hilarious)

(Note: I know he was wearing a Schroeder jersey from his first year, but I just like to imagine growing up, he had always compared him to Lapierre, which was weird because they never met)

After last Saturday night, Jordan Schroeder has officially made his mark on this team and should be rewarded with a new (real) number. He got his first two NHL goals against the Calgary Flames that night, and if you just looked at the box score, he beat them single-handedly.

All while wearing No. 45 (which is a curse to all Jordans since our Arch-Duke tried to “make it a thing” in the 1990s)

After that debacle, I can only justify someone wearing that number if they meet the following criteria:

– You were born on April 5th, 1945

– Your first name is Colt

– Your last name is Colt

You might be asking “Hey, has Jordan Schroeder earned anything aside from his roster spot?” Technically no, but I’m not saying he should be given No.21 from Mason Raymond or anything. But how about his Chicago Wolves number?

The number 18?

(Looks good. Looks right)

18 has gone through some hardships in Vancouver. Shawn Antoski wore it, Steve Kariya wore it, Steve Bernier wore it, and… well that’s kind of it (but it’s hardship enough). Chris Tanev wore it in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, but as soon as he made the team he turned his back on it (which is insanely ironic when you think about it) and starter wearing No. 8 instead.

Currently the No. 18 is being worn by defenseman Cam Barker, who I just learned on Sunday at the Superskills contest actually exists. He’s got arms and everything. He also has an 88 mph slap shot and Jordan Schroeder’s rightful jersey number. Heck, the (insane) argument can be made that the only reason Schroeder got his first goal the other night is because he was harnessing the power of “18” that was nearby…

(That’s just science, right there)

So unless Cam Barker single-handedly beats a team this year, I say on behalf of Jordans everywhere…

Give it up, Cam. Let The Shredder make that number mean something in this town again. After all, when most people think of the number 18, creepy old dudes come to mind. We need to take it back for decent folk.

You can follow j.Bow on twitter (@jBowmancouver). Join the cause by using the hashtag #JordanSchr18

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